Zico: An Autobiography of a Non-League Footballer

This book really shouldn't work. Its poorly written, lacks any real depth and is littered with grammatical errors. It is also in places factually inaccurate. However, I found it strangely enjoyable. Read a few chapters and you will find yourself really empathising with the author as he and his family sacrifice so much to pursue a dream to become a professional footballer. His 'voice' really comes through well throughout and you could imagine him writing this whole book in one crazy-long sit-in!I can't help though thinking that this was an opportunity missed. He has undoubtedly had an interesting career (from the Channel Islands, to the Ukraine via Morecambe Bay) and there was probably a gap in the market for a book focussing on the struggles trying to become a professional footballer. He's also had a few Roy of the Rovers moments scoring goals to fire Morecambe into the play-offs and even made it on to Match of the Day; not to mention an infamous few weeks playing for Gazza during his ill-fated time as manager at Kettering. Unfortunately these were skimmed over far too briefly in my opinion and as a reader you find yourself feeling a little short-changed.

I bought this autobiography with anticipation hoping to gain an insight into the football life of a non-league player. However, what I got was a mish mash of mostly incomplete stories from someone whose command of the English language left a lot to be desired. The narrative style of the book was almost non-existent and while accepting that the book was self puslished I would ask the author if he has ever heard of proof reading? There was numerous spelling and grammar errors (often different misspellings of the same word within one paragraph) that made it difficult to read the content. The content itself contained some interesting anecdoters which gave a excellent insight to non-league football but, in my opinion, too much of the book was dedicated to the authors personnal life (nights out, holidays) that became repetitive and detracted from the football content.

As someone who has known Ryan-Zico for a number of years I just had to read his book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it shows what someone has to go through to get to where he got. my only gripe is the apparent lack of a proof reader, the book is littered with spelling and grammar errors. But still a good read never less.

Anything to do with GFC is OK by me! Well done Zico!

Any footballer who has the middle name Zico is a bit special and that is certainly the case with Ryan `Zico' Black, named after the famous Brazilian footballer.An exotic middle name isn't the only thing that makes Ryan stand out. He is also one of the few professional footballers to come out of Guernsey; not surprisingly Ryan's hero is Matt Le Tissier, Guernsey's most famous son who played for the same youth team as Ryan.And another note of distinction is that Ryan has fulfilled a lifetime's ambition and written a book.If, like me, you are tired of the premiership then Ryan Zico Black, an autobiography of a non-league footballer, is the perfect antidote and available to you for a fraction of the cost of the cheapest seats at Old Trafford or the Emirates Stadium. The autobiography takes us through the trials and tribulations of a footballer trying to make the grade. It is a motivating, moving and honest chronicle of someone driven by a real love of football and a stubborn determination to succeed.Ryan's autobiography is a fascinating insight into football at the lower ends of the game. I lost track of all the clubs with which Ryan was associated but it reads like an A-Z of the football pyramid. By my reckoning his journey includes Southampton, Bournemouth, Northwhich Victoria, Plymouth, Reading, Exeter, Preston, Squire's Gate, Northern Ireland Under 18's, Under 21's, Morecombe (three times), Barrow, Glenavon, Lancaster and Kettering.Ryan's story should also serve as an inspiration to all young people who have to leave their local shores to pursue further study or a chosen career. Ryan's story shows that it's not easy and parents will recognise the phone calls home when things aren't going well. Also most of us can identify with experiencing dodgy bedsits, although it is typical of Ryan that he goes that bit further and manages to flood one of his rooms and has to do a moonlight flit to avoid the angry landlord.Ryan's first three chapters tell of his childhood in Guernsey and the beginnings of the move to non-league football. Ryan admits that school and studying weren't his strong points but he is typically generous in his fondness for certain teachers.The book then takes us through the various highs and lows of Ryan's career. There are highs aplenty and his honest accounts are usually written from a fan's perspective. That is particularly evident when he describes his excitement at top games such as representative games for Northern Ireland and Cup matches against Ipswich and Cambridge. His pride at being on Match of the Day is something that we can all share:`The Game was to be shown as featured highlights on Match of the Day. I couldn't wait for that and for all my friends and family to watch me play on TV. I always watched Match of the Day growing up so I was excited to think that I would be on there too.'He is equally frank about the lows. His prolonged negotiations with Morecombe for a rise, for example, are obviously a struggle for someone who seems straightforward and honest and expects everyone to behave in the same way. His experience in being transferred to Kettering as one of Gazza's first signings shows the bizarre nature of football and, worryingly for the game, that episode does not seem exceptional. He also relates the time that a new Lancaster chairman was announced, and had grand ideas for turning the club into a premier league side: `Gary rang me from Lancaster to tell me that the multi-millionaire businessman was a hoax and had been lying all the time and he was actually a door to door salesman and delivered newspapers.'There are some idiosyncracies. Ryan writes like he talks and the book is refreshingly free of a ghost writer.At times there are too many accounts of matches but, again, that is simply the product of a writer who really loves his football and wants to share his experiences.Some of the non-footballing elements are very enjoyable. Ryan's love for his family and friends is clear and I took particular pleasure from Ryan's attempts to woo his girlfriend.The book is an easy read and refreshingly honest. Ryan's story should motivate us all and remind us that achievement is 5% inspiration and 95% dedication. In Ryan's words:`There is no other job in the world that I would do rather than to play football and I am fortunate to be able to make a living from the game.'

I've recently got into non-league football and thought that this autobiography might provide a decent insight into the game at that level. I was really disappointed with the book. It lacked any interesting or amusing anecdotes and really didn't offer anything of any depth or meaning.The only other person to have reviewed the book before me described the writing as "refreshingly free of a ghost writer". That may well be true - but it was also annoyingly free of any proof-reader. I'm not the greatest writer or exponent of correct grammar or spelling but if I published a book I'd at least get someone I trusted to proof read the thing. As it was - it was virtually unreadable. Don't try to read this - it'll put you off reading footballers autobiographies for life! It's not non-league standard writing - it's playground stuff!Sorry Zico - I feel guilty for being so tough on the book but it really was a stinker!

i found this book to be very interesting...ryan loves football as much as his family and friends,keep up the good work,guernsey is very proud of you.............maureen.x